Lay for looms



March 9, 1954 .1. M. TUTEN 2,671,474

LAY FOR Looms Filed July 22, 1952 INVENTOR. JAMES M. Tg1-EN A TTORNE Y Patented Mar. 9, 1954 LAY FOR LOOMS James M. Tuten, Greenville, S. C., assigner to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass., a corporation of Maine Application July 22, 1952, Serial No. 300,287

Claims.

This invention pertains to looms, and more specifically, to modifications in the lay of a loorn for facilitating the assembly of endless check straps.

It is a general object of the invention so to modify the lay of a ily shuttle type loom as to facilitate the assembly of an endless check strap, and so to devise the lay that a check strap may be assembled into position without removing or disconnecting any of the parts incidental to the picker stick, lug strap connections or the parallel mechanism.

In looms of the type described there are ernployed two general types of check straps, those in which separate ends of the strap are connected at one side of the stick to an attaching bracket while the opposite or loop portion of the strap is passed through friction means, and the other, so-called endless check straps. The endless check straps have much to recommend them, especially some of the newer types of endless straps which are frequently employed in multiple, that is, three or four narrow straps being used rather than a single wide one. These newer straps are fabricated from rubberized material and are generally unaiected by moisture or other infiuences which frequently detract seriously from the eiciency of leather straps, or at least, make the leather straps more diiicult to adjust and to maintain in operation.

However, these endless check straps have one serious disadvantage, that is, they may be assembled only by removing the picker stick so that the straps may be threaded over the end thereof and then replacing the stick with the straps threaded thereon after which they may be introduced into their frictioning brackets. This removal of the picker stick necessitates disconnecting the parallel mechanism and also removing the lug strap. Such practice obviously makes it necessary that the parts be replaced or adjusted in the positions which they formerly occupied so that considerable time is consumed and the chances of more or less improper operation upon reassembly are fairly great every time a check strap or straps are replaced. Where the multiple straps are used it is just as much work to assemble a single strap as it is the three or four straps making up the total number utilized.

According to the instant invention, a check strap of the endless type may be introduced very quickly without removing any of the loom parts or disconnecting or disturbing the adjustment of them in any manner whatsoever.

The invention briefly comprises forming angularly disposed, opposed slots at either side of the picker stick guiding slot in the lay end vorends so that the strap may be placed over the picker and end of the stick, then pushed downwardly into these slots at either side of the picker stick and finally drawn through below the lay beam whereupon the strap will then occupy the same position it would have if the stick had been removed 'from the lay end and the strap or straps threaded over the end thereof. Then the strap or straps may be introduced into the frictioning bracket or brackets and the loom restarted. It may be necessary to adjust the friction 'imparted by these brackets after introduction of new straps, butthat would probably have to be done anyway. Thus it may be seen that the invention, while 'exceedingly simple, is particularly advantageous in that 'a strap or straps may be assembled o n the loom without stopping for more than a matterA of minutes and it is no longer necessary to disconnect and to disturb the adjustment of the rather complicated stick supporting and operating mechanism. The invention also makes it particularhr easy to take advantage of these 'endless check straps fabricated from rubberized material which have proved their general superiority to the leather straps heretofore employed.

The invention will be described by reference to one particular embodiment which is illustrated in the accompanying figures of drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one side of a loom showing certain parts thereof incidental to the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of part of the lay endv showing a check strap being assembled into position.

Figs. 3 and 4 are top and sectional views, respectively, further illustrating the manner in which the invention is applied to a loom vand also the steps to be employed in introducing a check strap.

Now referring to the figures of drawing, in Fig. l certain parts of a loom are shown including a loomside l il, lay beam I I on which is positioned a metallic plate l2 comprising a part of the lay end and on which the shuttle I3 is adapted to rest after being boxed at the end of its stroke. A rocker shaft ill is pivoted in appropriate bearings in the loomside l0 and has at its end the conventional parallel motion indicated by numeral i5 which is adapted to maintain the stick properly pivoted and guided so that its picker may travel in the proper pathway, also resilient, stick-returning means. The picker stick I6 extends up'- wardly and projects through a vertically disposed slot Il, Fig. 3, extending for an appropriate length of the lay adjacent each end thereof and being closed at each end, the plate I2 and other lay end parts serving as an abutment or stick movement limiting means generally indicated at numeral I8 the construction of which is well known and need not be described further at this point.

Stick I 6 carries the usual picker I9 adjacent its upper end and this picker cooperates with the shuttle in a known manner.

A pick arm 20 is actuated by the usual pick cam means and has interconnected thereto a lug strap connection 2 I which is maintained at proper elevation along the stick by the lug strap positioning means 22.

A plurality of check straps 23, herein numbers a total of 3, although it is to be understood that any appropriate number thereof may be employed, for example, one single strap, or two, three or four as is frequently the practice. The more straps employed, of course, the narrower each individual strap becomes. At either side of the lay and positioned beneath it are the brackets 24 which include a plate means 25 attached by means of bolts or screws to the lay beam Il, two relatively fixed frictioning means 26 and a movable frictioning means 21 which is attached by the laterally projecting flange 28 and a bolt 29 to the main bracket 24, and which may be adjusted laterally of the beam so as to friction the check straps to a greater or lesser degree in accordance with requirements of the particular loom involved. This mechanism in substantially the same form is duplicated at 30 at the opposite side of the beam and opposite side of the picker stick so that these check straps 23 pass through two frictioning brackets, although it is to be understood that in certain instances, one only of these frictioning brackets may be provided, or both may not be identical in form. Each of the relatively xed frictioning members 2E is flanged as at 3| so as to maintain the check straps upwardly in vertical position after they have been assembled in the bracket.

The invention involves the forming of opposed, preferably angularly disposed slots 32 and 33, one at either side of the centrally disposed slot I'I, and at either side of the stick I6, cut in both the Wooden beam and in the metal of the lay end and being of such depth and width as to permit the ready threading of one individual check strap 23 downwardly therein while suitably clearing the sides of the stick I6, all as illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Depending upon the size of check strap to be used, the depth and width of these slots may be governed accordingly. Primarily the invention is to be employed with endless check straps where a multiple number thereof are employed for each stick. Therefore, the size of the slot involved is not great and it is easily formed and does not require removal of any appreciable amount of material from the beam I I or plate I2.

'Ihe slots 32 and 33 might conceivably be cut more or less vertically, but that would involve leaving certain corners of the slot which might interfere with the action of the stick and therefore the slots are cut at about a forty-lve degree angle. 'I'he angle may vary appreciably and so long as it is sunciently acute as to present no interference to the passage of the stick as the latter is guided in the slot I'I, and so long as it serves conveniently for the assembly of the strap, it may be cut at angles varying from a, few de- 4 grees off the vertical to one extending for a rela.- tively great distance along the length of the lay. However, an angle of about 45 has been found to serve all purposes quite satisfactorily.

Now referring to the figures, the check strap or straps may be assembled by looping one of the straps over the picker and the stick end and pushing it downwardly into and through the slots 32 and 33 permitting the stick to assume a convenient position and to follow along as the strap is eventually pulled out the lower end of these slots whereupon it may drop down the stick and thereafter be moved upwardly and assembled into or threaded through the frictioning members 26 and 21 in any convenient manner. It is to be assumed that the old straps if not broken so that they are released, may be cut and quickly discarded prior to the assembly of other and new straps. While it is possible to remove all of the old straps and assemble a complete new set it is one of the advantages of the instant invention that a single strap may be replaced whenever desired, the efficiency of so doing being apparent since it is not necessary to remove or disconnect any of the parts and the actual assembly of one of these straps would require only a matter of a very few minutes at the most.

The invention, while described as particularly adapted to multiple straps, may also be employed by using a wider cut for the slots to facilitate the introduction and assembly of endless check straps of greater widths, and also of any and all materials.

This disclosure has been specic to one end of the lay only, but if requiredl it may merely be duplicated at the opposite end. In some instances the lay slot such as I'I is Wide enough at the right end of the loom to permit ready entry of a strap anyway.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. The invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a loom having a lay, a picker stick and picker and an endless check strap and friction bracket therefor below the lay for arresting the movements of the picker stick, a slot in said lay for guiding the picker stick, and means to facilitate the assembly of a check strap over the picker and stick and through the stick guiding slot in the lay which comprises opposed slots formed in said lay end, one at each side of the guide slot.

2. In a loom having a lay, a picker stick and picker and an endless check strap and friction bracket therefor below the lay for arresting the movements of the picker stick, said lay having a slot extending lengthwise thereof within which the picker stick is guided, and means to facilitate the assembly of a check strap over the picker and stick and through the stick guiding slot in the lay which comprises a means dening opposed slots leading vertically downward at an angle to the length of the lay and of a depth approximately equal to the thickness of the check strap.

3. In a loom having a lay, a picker stick and picker and an endless check strap and friction bracket therefor below the lay for arresting the movements of the picker stick, said lay having a slot extending lengthwise thereof within which the picker stick is guided, and means to facilitate the assembly of a check strap over the picker and stick and through the stick guiding slot in the lay which comprises a means defining opposed slots, one at each side of the lay slot, leading vertically downward at an angle to the length of the lay and of width and depth such that a check strap may be passed downwardly through the said slots andA passed the sides of the picker stick positioned adjacent thereto.

4. In a loom having a lay, a picker stick and picker and a plurality of endless check straps for each picker stick and a friction bracket therefor positioned below the lay for arresting the movements of the picker stick, said lay having a slot extending vertically and lengthwise thereof within which the picker stick is guided, and means to facilitate the assembly of a check strap over the picker and stick and through the stick guiding slot in the lay which comprises a means defining opposed slots, one at each side of the lay slot, leading vertically downward at an angle to the length of the lay and of a width and depth such that one of said plurality of check straps may be passed downwardly through the slots and past the sides of the picker stick positioned adjacent thereto.

5. In a loom having a lay comprising a wooden beam and a metallic plate overlying the end portion of said wooden lay beam, a picker stick and picker and a plurality of endless check straps for each picker stick and a friction bracket therefor positioned below the lay beam for arresting the movements of the picker stick, said lay having a slot extending vertically and lengthwise through both the Wooden beam and metallic plate within which the picker stick is guided, and means to facilitate the assembly of a check strap over the picker and stick and through the stick guiding slot in the lay which comprises a means defining opposed, aligning slots in both the wooden beam and the metallic plate, one at each side of the lay slot, leading vertically downward at an angle to the length of the lay and of a width and depth such that one of said plurality of check straps may be passed downwardly through the slots and past the sides of the picker stick positioned adjacent thereto.

JAMES M. TUTEN.

No references cited. 

